Tecoma plant named ‘Sunhortedai’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Tecoma  plant named ‘Sunhortedai’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; flowering under high temperature conditions; greyed orange-colored flowers; and low temperature tolerant.

Botanical designation: Tecoma hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNHORTEDAI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Tecoma plant, botanically known as Tecoma hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunhortedai’.

The new Tecoma plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Chikushino-shi, Fukuoka, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and upright Tecoma plants with freely branching habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Tecoma plant originated from a cross-pollination in Chikushino-shi, Fukuoka, Japan in September, 2013 of a proprietary selection of Tecoma hybrida identified as code name TSTG#2, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Tecoma hybrida identified as code name TSAG#1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Tecoma plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Chikushino-shi, Fukuoka, Japan in June, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Tecoma plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in Chikushino-shi, Fukuoka, Japan since June, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Tecoma plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Tecoma have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunhortedai’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunhortedai’ as a new and distinct Tecoma plant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Flowering under high temperature conditions.     -   6. Greyed orange-colored flowers.     -   7. Low temperature tolerant.

Plants of the new Tecoma can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Tecoma differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Tecoma are shorter than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Tecoma have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Tecoma can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Tecoma differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Tecoma have longer lateral branches than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Tecoma and the male parent selection differ         in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have         yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Tecoma can be compared to plants of Tecoma hybrida ‘Sunhorteaka’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,372. Plants of the new Tecoma differ primarily from plants of ‘Sunhorteaka’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Tecoma are more upright than plants of         ‘Sunhorteaka’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Tecoma have more leaflets than         leaves of plants of ‘Sunhorteaka’.     -   3. Plants of the new Tecoma are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Sunhorteaka’.     -   4. Plants of the new Tecoma have longer flowers than plants of         ‘Sunhorteaka’.     -   5. Plants of the new Tecoma and ‘Sunhorteaka’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Sunhorteaka’ have orange red, vivid orange         and vivid reddish yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Tecoma plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Tecoma plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunhortedai’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Sunhortedai’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 30-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Tecoma production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 28° C. and night temperatures averaged 23° C. Plants were ten months old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Tecoma hybrida ‘Sunhortedai’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Tecoma             hybrida identified as code name TSTG#2, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Tecoma             hybrida identified as code name TSAG#1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 15 days at             temperatures about 20° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 23° C. to 28° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—After root             initiation, about 25 days at temperatures about 20° C. to             30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—After root             initiation, about 30 days at temperatures about 23° C. to             28° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual             color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,             water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and relatively compact plant             habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit.         -   Plant height.—About 113 cm.         -   Plant width (or plant spread).—About 78 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 49 cm. Diameter:             About 5.4 mm. Internode length: About 5.4 cm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A,             becoming closer to 146A with development. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite; pinnately compound with five or seven             leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 13.5 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 7.6 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 2.9 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate.         -   Leaflet texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             144A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 146C.             Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 145B. Fully expanded leaflets, lower             surface: Close to 147C; venation, close to 145C.         -   Leaf petioles.—Length: About 4.1 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145A.         -   Leaflet petioles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About             2.3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in             terminal panicles; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about 35 flowers per inflorescence and             about 16 inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about six to nine weeks after planting;             plants flower in the garden from late spring until autumn in             Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 16.4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 14.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Club-shaped. Color: Towards the apex, close to 34B;             towards the base, close to 26A and 20A.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla             fused and five-parted. Diameter: About 3 cm. Height: About             2.9 cm. Throat diameter: About 9.3 mm. Tube length: About             2.7 cm. Tube diameter: About 6.6 mm.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated             tube; two upper lobes and three lower lobes. Petal lobe             length: About 1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.3 cm. Petal             lobe shape: Orbicular. Petal lobe apex, upper lobes: Rounded             to emarginate. Petal lobe apex, lower lobes: Rounded to             truncate. Petal lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate.             Petal lobe texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabous. Tube             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Upper petal lobes, when             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to N163B. Lower             petal lobes, when opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to N163A. Upper petal lobes, fully opened, upper surface:             Close to N163A to N163B; towards the throat, close to N163C;             longitudinal stripes, close to N163A; with development,             color becoming closer to 26A and 7A. Lower petal lobes,             fully opened, upper surface: Close to N163C; stripes, close             to N163A; with development, color becoming closer to 7A.             Upper petal lobes, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             169B to 169C. Lower petal lobes, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to N163B. Throat: Close to N163B and 13A;             stripes, close to N163A. Tube: Close to 26A and 20A.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl, fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.6 mm.             Sepal width: About 0.9 mm. Sepal shape: Triangular. Sepal             apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color: When             developing and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N144C.             When developing and fully opened, lower surface: Close to             N144C; towards the base, close to 166A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Pubescent. Aspect: Mostly upright. Color: Close to             144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 mm. Diameter: About 0.7 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.             Color: Close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four. Filament length: About 2.6 cm to 3 cm. Filament color:             Close to 4D. Anther size: About 3.7 mm by 4.2 mm. Anther             shape: Variable. Anther color: Close to 8C. Pollen amount:             Very scarce. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil             length: About 2.5 cm. Style color: Close to 154D. Stigma             shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary color:             Close to 144D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Tecoma. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Tecoma have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Tecoma     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Tecoma have been observed to     tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about −5° C. to     about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Tecoma plant named ‘Sunhortedai’ as illustrated and described. 